West Indies muscle defies tricky pitch

On a slow surface not far removed from the pitch that produced a dogfight in the first semi-final, Chris Gayle led a West Indies onslaught that floored Australia and set up a total beyond the West Indies' wildest imagination. The ball often kept low, stuck in the surface and took vicious turn, but anyone who had watched West Indies maul Xavier Doherty and David Hussey might have thought it a batsman's paradise.

Gayle's method of overcoming a difficult pitch was completely different from the response a similar surface drew from Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka's match against Pakistan. While Jayawardene sized up the pitch, put a mental ban on straight strokes, and relied on sweeps and reverse sweeps to push the scoring rate along, Gayle simply banked on brute strength to muscle six sixes and five fours in an unbeaten 75 from 41 balls*.

On one of the most difficult surfaces in the tournament, West Indies blasted the first score in excess of 200. The women's game that preceded the men's semi-final on the same pitch produced three fewer runs across both innings than West Indies managed by themselves.

"We didn't expect that sort of big total," Gayle said after the match. "Watching the games, it was a slow track and we knew that spinners would play a part. What helped us was actually that we captialised on the bad balls and we put their spinner under a bit of pressure, and it paid off for us. We've got power there and that helped us. We had a target to get about 150-160. To get 40 runs extra was a bonus for us."

Apart from George Bailey, Australia also found it a difficult surface to be aggressive on. Both openers were bowled by Samuel Badree deliveries that stayed very low, and Michael Hussey and Cameron White's attempts to spur the run rate were spoiled by balls that held in the pitch longer than expected.

Gayle also had a slow start, making only four from his first nine balls, but was irresistible once he grew accustomed to the pace of the wicket. Australia's attack will feel they did not bowl as badly as the scorecard suggests, but Gayle bullied balls to the fence with such abandon that full toll was exacted of even the slightest errors.

"The way they bowled to me, they put a couple of the deliveries in my slot," Gayle said. "In this format of the game, as a bowler it's going to be tough if you don't get your yorkers right. You're always going to play the penalty if you don't get it right. The majority of the time their variation was very good. Cummins' variation was good, and they did bowl well at us. But a bit of extra power, anything can happen out there."

Kieron Pollard's 38 from 15 balls battered Australia's bowlers further towards the end of the West Indies innings. With West Indies on 187 with four balls remaining, Pollard walloped three consecutive sixes off Doherty to propel West Indies beyond 200, having scorched a 149kph yorker from Cummins to the midwicket fence earlier in the innings. Prior to this knock, Pollard had made only 40 runs in the tournament in four innings. Gayle revealed he had encouraged Pollard to draw inspiration from the blistering innings that heralded his talent to a global audience: the thundering 54 from 18 in the 2009 Champions League T20.

"They were playing his Champions League innings that he played for Trinidad against New South Wales on TV and I said to him, 'Tonight I need the old Pollard back,' and he played that part. There's one more game, so hopefully he can give us that boost again and take us to the title."

Gayle's impact on the match was also remarkable given how little of the strike he saw early in the West Indies innings. He faced only 41 balls in total, despite batting through the innings, and by the 10th over, had only seen 18 balls. Bailey said his side had planned to unleash Mitchell Starc on Gayle early, but they were unable to remove him because he spent most of Starc's opening overs at the non-striker's end.

"Early on we tried and get him out and that was our ploy with Starcy," Bailey said. "The last couple of games we've opened with left-arm spin and we've opened with Watto a little bit, but tonight we went all out with Starcy who's been our best bowler in the tournament to try and get Chris Gayle out. Clever bugger, he just managed to not get on strike. He didn't face much of the ball, but the guys batting around him batted very very well."

West Indies now face a final against Sri Lanka, who defeated them by nine wickets in the Super Eights, and by the same margin in a practice match before the tournament. Gayle said West Indies had learnt from those experiences and will back themselves to spoil the hosts' party.

"We're definitely going to rock against Sri Lanka. We played against them in one of the Super Eight games so we know what to expect - the atmosphere, the noise and everything. It was really good to get that run against them even though we lost. We're definitely going to win this trophy here. I just feel confident about it. We're up against world class players in the Sri Lanka team, but it's going to be good fun."

In final... My Heart Says that Windies to win... but mind says that Srilankan have the chances, becos of they are strong in Spin Department...I will be gud one.

Sanawana
on October 6, 2012, 21:26 GMT

Gotta admire George Bailey; the guy was given captaincy and people were even doubting his place in the team and he always had that signature smile; he's a pleasing character in a team known for psyching out (read sledging) the opposition. I thought Gayle had decided in his mind to go with caution and that he could always get a 50 if he's cautious but I didnt know it wasn't the 'careless' Gayle that either threw away his wicket or give you a 50 in 20 something balls but it was rather the panicky Gayle; I knew it only after Bailey's and Gayle's interview; Bailey said he didnt panicked because the batsmen at the other end performed well with him and Gayle acknowleged it was the result of not panicking!

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 18:32 GMT

i certainly back raw power windies possess in form of gayle and pollard..gayle alone can tear apart any capable bowling attack..and bowling unit looks decent too especially spin dept. with badree and narine... lankans would have to wait again to lift the trophy...thats for sure..

ansram
on October 6, 2012, 12:50 GMT

SL could be predicted to win, but WI have more of flair and aura of unpredictability. If WI are at their best they will knock the wind out of SL, or they will come a cropper. SL 60 WI 40.

Master_Mihil
on October 6, 2012, 11:05 GMT

THESE PITCHES WERE GOOD PITCHES EARLY ON!! BUT A LOT OF MATCHES WERE PLAYED ON THEM LATER!! SO THE GRASS HAS DIED IN SOME WICKETS. WE WILL GET A GRASSY WICKET FOR THE SUNDAYS FINAL!!!

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 10:25 GMT

In final... My Heart Says that Windies to win... but mind says that Srilankan have the chances, becos of they are strong in Spin Department...I will be gud one.

foooooooooooooooooo
on October 6, 2012, 8:18 GMT

I CAN BET NOW ITS SRI LANKA TURN TO GET HUMILIATED AT HANDS OF WEST INDIES. COME ON GAYLE AND CO. CRUSH SRI LANKANS INTO SUBMISSION. THEY ARE NOT INVINCIBLE.

Sinhaya
on October 6, 2012, 8:04 GMT

@Cpt.Meanster, please dont call spinning pitches dirty. Then what sort of pitch do you get in Chennai? Most sub continent pitches are spinning pitches.

Afta
on October 6, 2012, 7:45 GMT

I see some people cricticising sri lanka for preparing slow wickets, but little that they understand, that all playing surfaces are under the control and supervision of the ICC. If the Gayle force can tonk a score more than 200 on slow non-bouncy wickets. Why can't the other teams try doing the same? Sour grapes I suppose. This tournament has been conducted in an absolutely fantastic manner without any shortcomings and all credit should go to Sri Lanka Cricket.

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 5:27 GMT

Kindly correct the fact......It was 75 from 41 balls and not 71 from 45....... Or else you'll have to endure the wrath of Lord Gayle!!!

dummy4fb
on October 8, 2012, 4:17 GMT

In final... My Heart Says that Windies to win... but mind says that Srilankan have the chances, becos of they are strong in Spin Department...I will be gud one.

Sanawana
on October 6, 2012, 21:26 GMT

Gotta admire George Bailey; the guy was given captaincy and people were even doubting his place in the team and he always had that signature smile; he's a pleasing character in a team known for psyching out (read sledging) the opposition. I thought Gayle had decided in his mind to go with caution and that he could always get a 50 if he's cautious but I didnt know it wasn't the 'careless' Gayle that either threw away his wicket or give you a 50 in 20 something balls but it was rather the panicky Gayle; I knew it only after Bailey's and Gayle's interview; Bailey said he didnt panicked because the batsmen at the other end performed well with him and Gayle acknowleged it was the result of not panicking!

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 18:32 GMT

i certainly back raw power windies possess in form of gayle and pollard..gayle alone can tear apart any capable bowling attack..and bowling unit looks decent too especially spin dept. with badree and narine... lankans would have to wait again to lift the trophy...thats for sure..

ansram
on October 6, 2012, 12:50 GMT

SL could be predicted to win, but WI have more of flair and aura of unpredictability. If WI are at their best they will knock the wind out of SL, or they will come a cropper. SL 60 WI 40.

Master_Mihil
on October 6, 2012, 11:05 GMT

THESE PITCHES WERE GOOD PITCHES EARLY ON!! BUT A LOT OF MATCHES WERE PLAYED ON THEM LATER!! SO THE GRASS HAS DIED IN SOME WICKETS. WE WILL GET A GRASSY WICKET FOR THE SUNDAYS FINAL!!!

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 10:25 GMT

In final... My Heart Says that Windies to win... but mind says that Srilankan have the chances, becos of they are strong in Spin Department...I will be gud one.

foooooooooooooooooo
on October 6, 2012, 8:18 GMT

I CAN BET NOW ITS SRI LANKA TURN TO GET HUMILIATED AT HANDS OF WEST INDIES. COME ON GAYLE AND CO. CRUSH SRI LANKANS INTO SUBMISSION. THEY ARE NOT INVINCIBLE.

Sinhaya
on October 6, 2012, 8:04 GMT

@Cpt.Meanster, please dont call spinning pitches dirty. Then what sort of pitch do you get in Chennai? Most sub continent pitches are spinning pitches.

Afta
on October 6, 2012, 7:45 GMT

I see some people cricticising sri lanka for preparing slow wickets, but little that they understand, that all playing surfaces are under the control and supervision of the ICC. If the Gayle force can tonk a score more than 200 on slow non-bouncy wickets. Why can't the other teams try doing the same? Sour grapes I suppose. This tournament has been conducted in an absolutely fantastic manner without any shortcomings and all credit should go to Sri Lanka Cricket.

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 5:27 GMT

Kindly correct the fact......It was 75 from 41 balls and not 71 from 45....... Or else you'll have to endure the wrath of Lord Gayle!!!

Sinhaya
on October 6, 2012, 5:12 GMT

Windies have so far not beaten Sri Lanka in T20 games. So well there is always a first time for everything. Hope our bowlers pitch the ball upto the batsman. Bowling short pitch will be the recipe for disaster.

Vindaliew
on October 6, 2012, 4:49 GMT

The value of people like Gayle cannot be measured by his own runs alone.. the confidence which must have rubbed off on Pollard made him play arguably his T20 best innings for the West Indies ever. Whoever wins in the final, cricket, and its fans, must surely emerge as the true winner!

ajayrcs
on October 6, 2012, 4:05 GMT

In t20 it doesn't matter who win or lose because its a game of luck where one player can change the game, there is no room for talent . Talent can only be judged in test cricket. So i am eagerly waiting for Aus vs Rsa test series. where Ricky Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vikum72
on October 6, 2012, 3:37 GMT

It's not enough just to have a tricky but the bowlers must know how to bowl on these type of tracks in order to obtain the desired results. One thing I noticed yesterday was lack of variation in phase by the Aussie bowlers, at least not to the required extent. At the start of innings his innings the one or two slow bowls that were bowled managed to keep Gayle quite. Of cause once he got used to the conditions it was all over. Lets hope SL does a better job of not letting him settle with a better bowling strategy and get his wicket ASAP. Only muscle SL could challenge WI with is the one inside their heads.

ygkd
on October 6, 2012, 3:20 GMT

With this WC, T20 is finally maturing into something of international substance. No longer are over-rated domestic leagues such as the IPL and the aptly-named Big Bash the be-all and end-all. Sure it's not test cricket, but bowlers and captains are starting to work it out. The best illustration I thought was not Gayle's and Pollard's hitting, but rather Rampaul bowling quickish and short to David Hussey and Sammy taking the ball off Badree and passing it straight to Narine the moment he saw Wade on strike. Wickets are key and Australia didn't really get any and by that I mean actually getting a batsman out rather than capitalising on a mistake. If they had they wouldn't have been chasing 205, Gayle or not. They were lucky as it was Gayle didn't get more of the strike. As for Doherty, he could have had an lbw, but at least the umpiring has been consistent - they pretty much haven't given them all series.

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 2:47 GMT

Lighting doesn't strike twice sunday's game is 50/50. Whatever SL do people/indians gonna say they won because of luck so i hope luck maybe turn our way ...one more time

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 2:41 GMT

i think the writer have forgotton that this was a much better pitch in comparison to first semi final, lets see how Gayle goes against the Sri Lankan attacke which has 4 fast bowlers (Malinga,Kulesekera,Mathews, Tissara) and 4 spinners (Mendis, Herath/Danajaya,Jeevan M and Dilshan)

Cpt.Meanster
on October 6, 2012, 0:27 GMT

I am sure the Sri Lankans would have seen this onslaught from Gayle. Now they will prepare a dirty and crumbling pitch to aid their style of cricket. This is why the ICC needs to take over the pitch preparation for global tournaments. Anyway, I feel the WI will give SL a tough game. Both teams play equally well on slowish pitches and the WI batting has a fair bit of experience in sub-continental conditions. Looking forward to an excellent final and may the best team win.

tommyhawk
on October 5, 2012, 22:56 GMT

Sounds like Gayle's got his groove back. Good to see that!
Listen to this: "They were playing his Champions League innings that he played for Trinidad against New South Wales on TV and I said to him, 'Tonight I need the old Pollard back." Who's the captain? Glad Gayle's feeling confident enough again to lead. I prefer it unofficially though since with him there's always a controversy around the corner. But I'll enjoy the good times while they last.

No featured comments at the moment.

tommyhawk
on October 5, 2012, 22:56 GMT

Sounds like Gayle's got his groove back. Good to see that!
Listen to this: "They were playing his Champions League innings that he played for Trinidad against New South Wales on TV and I said to him, 'Tonight I need the old Pollard back." Who's the captain? Glad Gayle's feeling confident enough again to lead. I prefer it unofficially though since with him there's always a controversy around the corner. But I'll enjoy the good times while they last.

Cpt.Meanster
on October 6, 2012, 0:27 GMT

I am sure the Sri Lankans would have seen this onslaught from Gayle. Now they will prepare a dirty and crumbling pitch to aid their style of cricket. This is why the ICC needs to take over the pitch preparation for global tournaments. Anyway, I feel the WI will give SL a tough game. Both teams play equally well on slowish pitches and the WI batting has a fair bit of experience in sub-continental conditions. Looking forward to an excellent final and may the best team win.

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 2:41 GMT

i think the writer have forgotton that this was a much better pitch in comparison to first semi final, lets see how Gayle goes against the Sri Lankan attacke which has 4 fast bowlers (Malinga,Kulesekera,Mathews, Tissara) and 4 spinners (Mendis, Herath/Danajaya,Jeevan M and Dilshan)

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 2:47 GMT

Lighting doesn't strike twice sunday's game is 50/50. Whatever SL do people/indians gonna say they won because of luck so i hope luck maybe turn our way ...one more time

ygkd
on October 6, 2012, 3:20 GMT

With this WC, T20 is finally maturing into something of international substance. No longer are over-rated domestic leagues such as the IPL and the aptly-named Big Bash the be-all and end-all. Sure it's not test cricket, but bowlers and captains are starting to work it out. The best illustration I thought was not Gayle's and Pollard's hitting, but rather Rampaul bowling quickish and short to David Hussey and Sammy taking the ball off Badree and passing it straight to Narine the moment he saw Wade on strike. Wickets are key and Australia didn't really get any and by that I mean actually getting a batsman out rather than capitalising on a mistake. If they had they wouldn't have been chasing 205, Gayle or not. They were lucky as it was Gayle didn't get more of the strike. As for Doherty, he could have had an lbw, but at least the umpiring has been consistent - they pretty much haven't given them all series.

Vikum72
on October 6, 2012, 3:37 GMT

It's not enough just to have a tricky but the bowlers must know how to bowl on these type of tracks in order to obtain the desired results. One thing I noticed yesterday was lack of variation in phase by the Aussie bowlers, at least not to the required extent. At the start of innings his innings the one or two slow bowls that were bowled managed to keep Gayle quite. Of cause once he got used to the conditions it was all over. Lets hope SL does a better job of not letting him settle with a better bowling strategy and get his wicket ASAP. Only muscle SL could challenge WI with is the one inside their heads.

ajayrcs
on October 6, 2012, 4:05 GMT

In t20 it doesn't matter who win or lose because its a game of luck where one player can change the game, there is no room for talent . Talent can only be judged in test cricket. So i am eagerly waiting for Aus vs Rsa test series. where Ricky Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vindaliew
on October 6, 2012, 4:49 GMT

The value of people like Gayle cannot be measured by his own runs alone.. the confidence which must have rubbed off on Pollard made him play arguably his T20 best innings for the West Indies ever. Whoever wins in the final, cricket, and its fans, must surely emerge as the true winner!

Sinhaya
on October 6, 2012, 5:12 GMT

Windies have so far not beaten Sri Lanka in T20 games. So well there is always a first time for everything. Hope our bowlers pitch the ball upto the batsman. Bowling short pitch will be the recipe for disaster.

dummy4fb
on October 6, 2012, 5:27 GMT

Kindly correct the fact......It was 75 from 41 balls and not 71 from 45....... Or else you'll have to endure the wrath of Lord Gayle!!!